Georgetown High grad, artist opens studio and gallery downtown

Sarah Menesale / georgetown@cnc.com

Friday

Sep 18, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 18, 2009 at 6:16 PM

Opening her own small business at age 23 was not something Georgetown’s Jessica Shea thought was in the cards after graduating from the Maine College of Art last year. But after moving home with a bachelors of art in illustration she found it wasn’t easy to pursue her artistic dreams with no real studio space in her parent’s High Street home.

Opening her own small business at age 23 was not something Georgetown’s Jessica Shea thought was in the cards after graduating from the Maine College of Art last year. But after moving home with a bachelors of art in illustration she found it wasn’t easy to pursue her artistic dreams with no real studio space in her parent’s High Street home.

“I needed a space to work so I started looking for a studio,” she said. “I stumbled upon this space and figured, why not open a gallery out front?” She even designed the sign.

That space is 22 East Main St., next to Pratt Hobby Shop — the former Georgetown Town Hall, complete with a vault in the back. With multiple rooms and plenty of light from the large glass windows out front, Shea decided to not only use the space as a studio but to open up a gallery as well and feature local artists’ work.

She dubbed the shop, “Jay Shay Art Studio & Gallery,” as a play on her name — a nickname in high school. Shea, a Georgetown High School Class of 2004 graduate, also produces two comic strips including “2:15,” based on her time at GHS.

Shea creates portraits, illustrations and comics.

“I mostly do watercolor, pen and ink and some work on the computer,” she says.

Mom Kathy says the gallery is a great way for her daughter to “give back” because it’s often hard for artists to find spaces to display their work.

Jay Shay Art Studio & Gallery

Proprietor: Jessica Shea, 23, of Georgetown

Location: 22 East Main St., Georgetown

Opening date: An invitation night for artists, friends and family is Friday, Oct. 2; the gallery opens to the public on Saturday, Oct. 3.

For more information: Call 978-697-4378, e-mail js@jayshay.com, or visit jayshay.com

Art has always been a passion for Shea, and making it a professional career a dream.

“All through middle and high school I was always doodling, drawing and reading comic books. My parents encouraged me to pursue art,” Jessica said.

Kathy says you could always find Jessica with a coloring book and crayon growing up.

“She’d be drawing pictures to go with stories her and her younger brother Samson would write and here she is now an illustrator,” she said.

Shea wants to fill the gallery with work from local artists, from painters to jewelry makers to potters. She’s been contacting local artist associations and has work from Georgetown artists as well as individuals from Newburyport, Ipswich, Rowley and other area towns.

“Georgetown doesn’t really have something like this,” she says of the gallery. “I’m trying to get Georgetown artists together and bring some culture to the town.”

Shea is currently recruiting artists to show under contract and plans on limited engagement showings as well as themed shows as the gallery develops.

“The art here is great for gifts and special occasions because it’s one of a kind. You’re not going to find anything like it,” says Kathy.

Running her own small business is no easy feat and there was a lot to learn getting it off the ground, says father Dave. Shea has also been waitressing in Newburyport to help pay the bills.